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Wastelander
Wastelander's picture
Axe Kick Alternatives

Hello everyone,

This week, we are looking at kakato otoshi geri (heel drop kick), also known as the "axe kick," which is a popular sport fighting technique, but can be difficult for many people to use. In this video, we show two alternative methods of using this kick in sport fighting, which require less flexibility to perform than the standard axe kick.

Tau
Tau's picture

I LOVE the axe kick. One of my early influences was Pele "The Axe" Reid as we had the same Sifu. He was very successful on the tournament circuit in the early 90s. Guess what he was famous for?

I do see it as very much a sports kick. I've used it in the ring very successfully, often by bouncing back into a snap front kick. My opponent evades the axe, then steps onto the front kick.

Pragmatcially.... few uses. I know Iain uses it sometimes in (I think) Pinan Yondan as a turnover. We sometimes see it as part of applying the cross arm bar on the floor.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Tau wrote:
I do see it as very much a sports kick.

Wastelander wrote:
This week, we are looking at kakato otoshi geri (heel drop kick), also known as the "axe kick," which is a popular sport fighting technique

I’d agree. Not one for my short, stumpy legs though :-) Richard’s demo in the video has a lovely arc on it though. That’s how to do it.

Coming up through the ranks, one of my instructor’s senior students (3rd dan at the time; now a 6th dan) used it incredibly well. He is tall, flexible and had long legs. He could throw it over your head, bring it down at speed, with perfect control, and then take it back off your head again. It was amazing to watch and very difficult for folks to defend against because none of us had a “model” for it. The method was just so unorthodox.

Definitely a sport and “game play” method when thrown like that … but what an awesome one!

Tau wrote:
Pragmatically.... few uses. I know Iain uses it sometimes in (I think) Pinan Yondan as a turnover.

I use that method for fun and play whenever my partner is bent over with their head in front of me. It’s here at 3:10 in this Sochin video. I’d personally not class is as an application of axe-kick though. The leg comes around onto the head, as opposed to downward from a height. It’s not one I’d use practically. Very much in the “martial arts box” for me, as opposed to the “self-protection box”.

Dropping the heel into the thigh of a dropped enemy is one possible use. The resulting “dead leg” can prevent them rising and giving chase.

All the best,

Iain